Words for Wednesday :: July 24 :: The Words

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator.

  Essentially the aim of this meme is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given some prompts. These prompts can be words, phrases, music or images.

  Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. This fun meme includes cheering on the other participants.

  And the more the merrier goes here as well, so if you are posting on your own blog then please tell us in the comments, so that all other participants, can come along and applaud.

This post goes live at 16.01 Tuesday my time. I have found out - hopefully now correct - that this is when Wednesday begins in Canberra.

For today the prompt are:
Building
Tailfeather
Trees
Metal
Cloak
Linen
     and/or
Boots
Ring
Spirit
Opera Mints
Phone
Whole

Still Here Post

I am still here, but busy.

I'll be back soon

Words for Wednesday :: July 17 :: The Words

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator.

  Essentially the aim of this meme is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given some prompts. These prompts can be words, phrases, music or images.

  Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. This fun meme includes cheering on the other participants.

  And the more the merrier goes here as well, so if you are posting on your own blog then please tell us in the comments, so that all other participants, can come along and applaud.

This post goes live at 16.01 Tuesday my time. I have found out - hopefully now correct - that this is when Wednesday begins in Canberra.

For today the prompt are:
Harvest
Golden
Moon
Gentle
Cut
Stones
     and/or
Order
Panic
Quince
Roses
Soliloquy
Table

Poetry Monday :: Growth

Growth - It seems I cannot get away from whining about the weather and incessant rain. Well let it at least be nice and rhyming whinies then.

Growth is everywhere
Plants grow here and there
Weeds and beans,
Flowers, greens,
tomatoes and grains
Just because it rains.

Growth is here and there
In my place and their
weeds and tansies
peas and pansies
mildew and hen's banes
Just because it rains.

Growth is in the air
clouds like a nightmare.
Thunder rolls
and lightening flashes
Puddles in all holes
All is splish and splashes.

 - - - - -

Next Monday: Conclusion

Sunday Selections :: Colour24 :: Søndagsbilleder

Månedens farve juli

Colour of the Month July 

Kagekunst. Jeg købte en käsekuchen med frugtgelé hos vore polske bager.
Da jeg kom hjem med den, havde toppen smittet af på bagerpappet.
Moderne konditorkunst!

Bakery art. I bought a piece of berry cheesecake at our local, Polish bakery.
When I reached home, the jelly on top had made this impression inside the box.
Modern cake art!

Bageren i et supermarked hvor de ikke er til højere kagekunst, havde disse her muffins.
Nej, jeg købte ikke nogen, og Ugleungerne plagede heller ikke.

At a bakery in a supermarket, where cake art is not high priority I found these muffins.
No, I did not buy any, I only brought home this photo. Nobody asked for me to buy some. 

De havde også denne her sjove kage
GULDERODSKAGE
... jo, den er da fint gylden, og der er helt sikkert gulerødder i. Tihi.

They also had this cake with a funny spelling mistake: GULDERODSKAGE:
GULEROD means carrot, GULD means gold
And yes this cake sure is golden, and with carrots, but why combine the words in this crazy way?
KAGE means cake - you might have guessed.

Og en puppe. Jeg frygter den bliver til en stikkelsbærmåler.
Uanset endte den ude i haven igen.

And a pupa. I fear that it turns into a gooseberryleave-eanting Magpie moth.
I put it back into the garden anyway.

Vi var i cirkus. Det har vi været næsten hvert år i lang tid,
de seneste år i Cirkus Baldoni, som også i år.

We went to a circus. We've done that every year (almost) for a very long time.
The last many years Circus Baldoni has been our preferred, also this year.

Words for Wednesday :: part 2 or 3 or maybe 4 :: Gylfi & Thora 11

This last Wednesday I came up with the Words for Words for Wednesday. I wrote a whiney weather post, using the Words, but they also fit in with my continuing story of Gylfi and Thora. As usual I am
using the words in the order they were given

Here they are:

Agile
Bleak
Comfort
Dull
Even
Full
     and/or
This photo from Spencer Gurley, courtesy of Pexels

I continue the story from where I let off last Monday - I seem to be late in using the words in July - well here it is still Friday a few minutes more at least

-- 👀 --

Gylfi entered the room just as Thora hung up. "Who was it?" he asked letting down the catch of the day in the sink.

"The Fins," Thora replied. "They are on their way to Turku, and are going to brave the portals on their own."
"Fine, I have something I want to test," Gylfi said. "Would you mind preparing the fish, while I get them. What a luck I did not stop when I had enough for the two of us. I'll be hungry when we return."

"What mischief have you planned now!" Thora asked.

"Teleporting," Gylfi answered. "I have been practising every day, sometimes even more times a day. And I can teleport with the neighbour's cow for short distances."
Thora began laughing, "That's why Starri's Hildur has been complaining that her cow gives less milk recently. I overheard her at the bakers'." she turned serious: "But teleporting is dangerous."

"As I said, I have been practising, and I think I'm just naturally good at it. It's easy, and it does not make me dizzy or tired as portals and other kinds of magic does."

"You're a strange one, Gylfi," Thora said lovingly, "I'll take care of fish and whatever, just drink up your tea, have a few more cookies, and remember to bring some along when you go and get the Finnish twins, these caves are not a place for prolonged stays."

Gylfi smiled at Thora while he ate the last of yet another cookie, then he wrapped some in a napkin and stuffed in his pockets. He rose: "Thank you. I promise to take care, and only take one of them at a time. No need to hurry and risk our future teachers."

"Great, I look forward to seeing you, and them, home again."
Shortly after she heard the roar of Gylfi's old car and began scaling the fish.

Gylfi arrived at the end of the bumpy road near the farm before darkness fell. He parked the car well away from the farmhouse and with agile steps climbed the nearest mound. Yes, he could see the cave from there, he looked around, painting an inner picture of his surroundings. The glacier looked bleak in the van evening light. He had to hurry. He pulled out his wand, looked at the distant glacier and cast the spell.

He stood at the entrance to the cave.
He entered the cave, and when he no longer could see the road, and thus also was not visible from outside, he pulled his staff and with a softspoken Ljús and a swish it emitted a clear, golden light. He took comfort in the fact that he knew where he was going this time around. Caves were one of his weaknesses, never admitted to anybody, but he felt the pressure of the masses of stone and earth and ice on top of him almost like a physical pressure.

A gleam of dull blue told him that Taavi had lit his wand as well and was near the little portal in the back of the cave. He called, and even this small sound filled up the cave with warmth and life - and bats. Gylfi ducked, as the bats flew over his head and out into the new night.

He turned his light up to full and walked briskly over to the twins. The cave was unusually dry and it was easy gong. They greeted one another and the twins gladly accepted a couple of Thora's cookies.

Weather Whining! ~ WfW July 10

Is this summer?

Mimi at Messymimi's Meanderings has written s funny, witty and sunshiney post today - but oh, it makes me long for real summer and icecream cones.

We're already two full weeks and a bit into the Summer holidays and even past summer solstice, for heaven's sake, but we STILL have measly 17 degress. The sky is dull and cloudy and we see drizzle now and again.

We should be outside moaning a bit in the heat, collecting sunrays and memories as a comfort against the coming winter.

If this continues - and the forecast looks bleak - we're in for a winter with an upswing of seasonal depressions once again.

This is the weather forecast from YR.NO the Norwegian TV (NRK) and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute -- no, I have no idea how this turns into YR. It uses the same data as does the Danish ones, but its user interface is less bad.
Ever since BedreVejr.dk went offline the weather has been lousy. We hope for a return in the fullness of time.


And for this sorry piece, I used all the written prompts for this week's Words for Wednesday, given by me, but not the photo.

Agile
Bleak
Comfort
Dull
Even
Full
     and/or
This photo from Spencer Gurley, Pexels

Words for Wednesday :: July 10 :: The Words

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator.

  Essentially the aim of this meme is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given some prompts. These prompts can be words, phrases, music or images.

  Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. This fun meme includes cheering on the other participants.

  And the more the merrier goes here as well, so if you are posting on your own blog then please tell us in the comments, so that all other participants, can come along and applaud.

This post goes live at 16.01 Tuesday my time. I have found out - hopefully now correct - that this is when Wednesday begins in Canberra.

For today the prompt are:
Agile
Bleak
Comfort
Dull
Even
Full
     and/or
This photo from Spencer Gurley, Pexels

Poetry Monday :: Candid

Every Monday is Poetry Monday. Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health reasons.

  I have something more to ask of you: If you read this and the poetry of others, would you please leave a comment. Half - if not more - the fun of these challenges is receiving the responses of others.

This Monday's prompt is Candid


Candid ... this word means frank, outspoken, forthright.Today my poetry muse is stupid - maybe she's still in holiday mode. The only thing she comes up with is an old joke rhyme in Danish. It may hail from the  old Autograph Albums of my childhood. And it is in Danish too. A translation into English will follow.

  -- 👼 --

     Dagens ord er Candid - der betyder ligefrem, oprigtig eller noget i den dur.
     Min muse er vist stadig på ferie eller måske i drillehumør. I hvert fald er det eneste, hun har at tilbyde dette gamle vers, måske fra min barndoms poesibøger.

  -- 👼 --

At sætte mig til poesi
det er der ingen mening i.
Nu har jeg siddet her en time
og kan ikke få det til at rime.



To make me write in poetry
Is meaningless as well can be
I sat an hour here and see
No rhyme to show for my travail.

  -- 👼 --

Next Monday: Growth. I hope my muse is back and rested by then.

Words for Wednesday :: Thora & Gylfi 10

Finally I got myself pried away from gardening, Tour de France and other chores and projects and finished the next chapter in my continuing story of Thora and Gylfi. The Words were:

Fish
Kettle
Black
Human
Cloister
Serene
     And/or
Flagstone
Quarry
Bush
Rowan
Finnish
Mango

I continue where I left off, using the words in the order they were given as usual - only not mango. It did not fit in.

 Some days later, Gylfi was out fishing. He did not use any magic, but still he caught enough fish for dinner and some more, he gutted them and returned home.
Thora had been working in the garden, tending the early greens and encouraging them to grow, at the same time discouraging the aphids and other pests from eating their edibles and instead eating those that Thora and Gylfi regarded as weeds. She picked some early greens and flowers and herbs. Potatoes were still to be had in the root cellar, as were various cabbages and other roots. Soon the potatoes were simmering, and the other greens cleaned and cut. She buttered a huge pan and spread the roots and greens in it. Then she filled the herbs and spices in a glass, cut them with her scissors and added salt. This she would sprinkle over the fish before consigning them to the oven. She also filled the kettle with fresh water; black tea to warm them both after a day spent in the still cool Icelandic spring was a luxury they did not want to do without, they were human after all, and the warmth spell demanded much mental energy to maintain.  

While she waited for Gylfi to return home, she said her evening devotions. She looked at the photo of the cloister from the former Carmelite monastery in Elsinore. That place exuded a serene, almost holy atmosphere even from the old black and white photo. She wanted to go there again soon. The flagstones in the photo caught her eyes. A legend told that if you stayed in the cloister on a night where the moon was full, Kirstin Munk, the morganatic wife of king Christian IV, was supposed to appear where the light of the full moon fell on a certain flagstone.
Thora did not believe this to be true. But the old monastery held a fascination to her. She was awakened from her wool-gatherings by her owl, Brúnleita, that landed on the window sill with a small bird in it's sharp claws. Thora rose, and gently asked Brúnleta to let go of her quarry.
Protesting, but knowing that Thora was the master, the owl let go of the still fighting bird. Thora held it carefully and examined it with eyes and magic. Miraculously it had only a few punctures to the skin, nothing internal was damaged, only squeezed a bit. Thora gently placed the small bird in a bush under a huge rowan tree and put a protecting spell on it. The spell would wear off, but now it stood a chance.
Thora gave Brúnleita one of the savoury biscuits she kept for this purpose, and told her not to bring birds into the house. "If you must catch birds, eat them before you come here," she said sternly. The owl hooted softly and flew off to the rowan tree to sulk and eat her biscuit. Thora laughed to herself. She suspected the owl of deliberately bringing in an unharmed bird now and then to get the treats.
The phone rang, and as Thora picked it up and said: "Hello, Thora speaking," a lot of statics and a jumble of words followed. For a second Thora was about to hang up, then she recognised Taavi's voice and the Finnish word for hello. She quickly pulled out her wand and cast the language spell, hoping it would work through the telephone as well. It did, and Taavi told Thora that he and Tähti were on their way to the portal in Turku.

"Great," Thora said. "Have you decided to brave the portals alone?"
---
"Yes, fine! Just wait in the cave and I or Gylfi will be there -- See you! - Bye."

... to be continued

Sunday Selection & Colour24

As usual our weather is playing the "Who, me?" game with me. I go out to do something in the garden ... it begins raining. I go in and do indoor work or watch Tour de France - the rain stops.

Look for yourself how innocent our weather acts here. The big puddles and the wet tarmac are giveaways, the trees were still dripping wet.

     Vejret leger sit sædvanlige kispus med mig for øjeblikket. Når jeg går ud i haven, begynder det straks at regne. Går jeg indenfor og rydder op eller følger med i Tour de France, ja så skinner solen øjeblikkeligt.
     Prøv bare at se hvordan vejret spiller uskyldig og siger: "Hvem, mig?"  Det bliver bare afsløret af de store pytter og den våde asfalt. Træerne dryppede stadig.

-- 💧 --

But despite the rain, I picked some golden berries,

Men mellem bygerne fik jeg plukket nogle gyldne bær.

These golden gooseberries were made into the tiniest amount of soft fruit cheese together with some white redcurrants I found while weeding.
I had to make room for the bush, which I picked as well. It stood next to the road and a driveway, and I feared that the farmer would run over or in other ways harm the goldenberried bush.

     De gyldne stikkelsbær blev lavet til en bittelille portion semi-gelé sammen med nogle hvide hindbær, som jeg fandt, mens jeg lugede.
     Jeg var nødt til at gøre plads til hele busken som jeg tog med hjem. Den stod et dumt sted, og jeg frygtede, at landmanden ville pløje den væk eller køre den over inden næste sommer.
     Semi-geleen blev testet til aftensmaden og smager supergodt.

 -- 💛 --

The bush with the golden berries now in my unruly garden. I imagined fruit bushes with an undergrowth of strawberries - the bindweed imagined a playground. So far 1-0.

     Busken med de gyldne bær nu i min vilde have. Jeg forestillede mig bærbuske med jordbær som bunddække. Snerlerne forestillede sig en legeplads. De vandt første omgang.

-- 🎨 --

Now for the colour of the month and what else happened photo-wise in this past week.

Og nu til månedens farve, og hvad der ellers endte i kameraet i den forgangne uge.

-- 🎨 --

En stribet tæge (sikke da et opfindsomt navn). Den kan vi takke de varmere somre for, jeg har aldrig set én før

A striped bug  - yes it's called thus, so very ingenious 😉
Thanks to global warming it now thrives in Denmark. I never saw it before.

-- 🎨 --

Mit stædige birketræ i Hillerød gror stadig!

My birch tree in Hillerød, still defiantly growing!

-- 🎨 --

     Og så har jeg fået et nyt, gammelt køleskab. Det skulle smides ud, og da jeg længe har ønsket mig et køleskab til syltetøj og sæbeprojekter, skyndte Storesøster at redde det. Først slæbte Minimax og Spirillen det ind i huset og op ad trappen, så stod det op et helt døgn, for at være sikker på at væskerne var sevet tilbage på plads efter den liggende transport i Storesøsters lille bil.
     Så blev det vasket og vasket én gang til! Der groede sjove ting under hylder og i krogene. Så fik jeg Spirillen og Minimax til at hjælpe mig med projekt løft et køleskab på plads. Og så sluttede jeg det til strømmen. Det brummede sagte, og næste morgen var det koldt! Så flyttede syltetøj og sæbeingredienser ind.
     Uglemor er taknemmelig over hjælpsomme og betænksomme Ugleunger.
     Køleskabet skal dekoreres udenpå, det bliver næste projekt.

And I had a new, old fridge. It was destined for the landfill, and since I wanted a fridge for jams and soap projects for a long time, BigSis rushed in to save it. Then Minimax and Marsupilami dragged it into the house and up the stairs, then it stood for a whole day to make sure that all  the fluids had seeped back into place after the horizontal transport in BigSis' small car.

Then it was washed and washed once again! Funky things grew under shelves and in the nooks and crannies. Then I called in Marsupilami and Minimax once again to help me with project lift a fridge into place. And then I plugged it in and turned it on. It hummed softly and the next morning it was cold! Then jam and soap ingredients moved in.
MotherOwl is very grateful for helpful Owlets.

It will next be decorated on the outside, that will be a project for another rainy day.

-- 🎨 --

Månedens farve er sikkert rundt omkring på billederne,
ellers kommer den her.
Uudsprungne rejnfan-blomster er præcis den farve.

I am sure the colour of the month can be found
here and there in my photos,
but here it is. Tansy buds are the exact right colour.

IWSG

One day late - because I did not have the time to use my own words
Conrgatualtion to all celebrating 4th of July.

 -- 🎇 --

Yesterday was also the first Wednesday of the month. Time for the monthly Question from the Insecure Writers' Support Group

July 3 question - What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

My answer - I use Word for pure writing of text and Publisher in an antiquated version for anything else. None of them are my fave tools, and I so could do without the new Word given a decent alternative.

If I had freedom of choice, I'd like to use the WordPerfect of old (version 5.1, please). I still miss many of the functionalities this program offered, and which the revived version do not any more include.

I like to use keystrokes for formatting instead of mouseclicks, and I really dislike the new User Interface in Word, that replaced the logical dropdown menus with obscure "options in a box".

I am going to visit all of the IWSG blogs this time around, looking at your recommendations and testing them out.

Words for Wednesday :: July 3 :: The Words

PLEASE NOTE - Comments are regularly not posted, they are put in "Spam jail". I try my best to free them as soon as possible and to notify Blogger each and every time. But I have to eat, sleep and in general do other things. sorry.

--  💣 ๑ ✳ ⚔  --

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Troubles led her to bow out, but the meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator.

  Essentially the aim of this meme is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given some prompts. These prompts can be words, phrases, music or images.

  Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog. This fun meme includes cheering on the other participants.

  And the more the merrier goes here as well, so if you are posting on your own blog then please tell us in the comments, so that all other participants, can come along and applaud.

This post goes live at 16.01 Tuesday my time. I have found out - hopefully now correct - that this is when Wednesday begins in Canberra.

For today the prompt are:
Fish
Kettle
Black
Human
Cloister
Serene
     And/or
Flagstone
Quarry
Bush
Rowan
Finnish
Mango

Colour24 July :: Light Ivory ~ Lys elfenben

Nu siger vi farvel til juni måned og farven

Now we say good bye to the colour of June

Det gør  jeg med de her smukke, grønne ærteplanter. Og se lige de blomster og de bælge altså. Den kommer helt sikker til at blive i min have, med mindre altså at de smager rædsomt. Sort Blauwschokker.

We do so with these pretty green pea plants. And notice those flowers and those pods, it is a keeper, unless of course it's very tasteless. Name of the beauty: Blauwschokker.



Juli måneds farve er:

is the colour of July.

For et par dage siden høstede jge blomster til plantefarvning, gele og urtesalte. Og se lige, nogle af tallerkensmækkerne har lige den farve!

Tuesday I picked flowers for dyeing, jellies and herbal salts, and look! some of the nasturtium have this colour!

Poetry Monday :: Free Choice

Every Monday is Poetry Monday. Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health reasons.

This Monday's prompt is either Canada Day or Free Choice. As I'm not a Canadian I go with Free Choice. And right now everything is growing, ripening and ready for picking, this is what I write about.

- - 🍁 - -

Happy Canada Day to all celebrating

- - 🍒 - -

We are picking plums and cherries
blue- and rasp- and other berries
we are busy
almost dizzy
swallows soaring in the sky

Herbs and spices we are drying
saving up for food and dyeing.
Chives and parsley
growing sparsely
We greet showers from up high.

In the forest mushrooms popping
standing close as people shopping,
In the fall when
they are all grown
we will bring them home to fry.

In the evening pots are steaming
I am stirring, I am dreaming
larder's growing
jams all glowing
Bats are chirping in the sky.

 - - - - - - - - -

Next Monday: Candid

Poetry Monday :: Muse

Every Monday is Poetry Monday. Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health reasons.

This Monday's prompt is Muse.

My muse has gone missing
Oh where is she now
I miss her and wish her
right back at my side

My muse has gone missing,
she wanders and roams
I  miss her and wish that
she stayed here at home

But muses are fickle
and will not be bound
I miss her and wish her
good luck on her jaunt.

 - - - - -

Next Monday: Canada Day or if this does not fit, you have Free Choice

Sunday Selestions :: Søndagsbilleder

Maltreatment of Plants ~ Plantemishandling

I do not know what these nice sansevieria have done to be treated this way - or why. I only know that this is a clear-cut case of plant maltreatment.
And according to the label (STOLT = PROUD) the perpetrators are even proud of their misdeed.

     Jeg ved ikke, hvad de her Svigermors skarpe tunger havde gjort for at skulle dyppes i maling, men det er helt klart plantemishandling.
    Og så lader det til at gerningsmændene oven i købet er stolte af deres værk.

Og nu til noget helt andet ~ And now for something completely different

Blomstrende lindetræ. Hvis man står  under sådan ét kan man høre hundredvis af insekter der suger til sig af den rigelige nektar.

Linden tree in full bloom. If you stand near such a tree, you can hear hundreds of insects drinking up the nectar.

Og i begge de her billeder finder vi månedens farve:

And in both photos, we find the colour of the month.

Words for Wednesday :: June 19 :: Gylfi & Thora 9

The Word for Wednesday challenge started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words are provided by a number of people. This merry month of May they are by David M. Gascoigne.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

 - - - - -

Words for Wednesday June 19:
Discourteous
Flicker
Martini
Whips
Belly
     And/or
Waving
Frogs
Moderation
Smile
Louring

But I still had the last batch of words left over from last Wednesday, and they fit my story. As usual I used them in the order they were given, and continued my tale from where I left off.

The words were:
Flour
Buttercups
Light
Train
Mullion

Back in Hella Thora decided to check out the families living around there for wizards and witches. Gylfi backed her up and suggested she used the ruse with borrowing a cup of flour from the houses.

In a house surrounded by buttercups Thora talked for a long time with Hildur, the housewife and mother of eight children in all ages from toddler to young adults. Thora was almost blown away by the magic in the air, even the baby in its pen seemed to exude magic like a strong light. During her visit she took great care not to talk of anything to do with magic. But she noticed the harness used to train the small ones broomstick flying  and the wands hidden in a vase of paper flowers. With her new knowledge of wands, she could feel that the wands were quite old, and not very efficient any more. She was more determined than ever for them to open that school of magic. The husband, Starri, returned home just as Thora was taking her leave, and she caught a whiff of magic from him as well.

Gylfi and Thora discussed late into the night how and where to find a place for a school. Thora did not think Iceland would be a great place for it.
"We would be overrun," she said, "people here are still keeping to the old ways, albeit erratically and faultily. My visits to neighbours - and yours as well show us that that magic in Iceland had not died out. We need to build a school in a place where only the students can go, where we teachers can live, and where we can have a shelter for magic animals, some place near the sea would be nice - and not too cold either. I'm sure something will show up."
Gylfi went to the window and grasped the mullion firmly, shaking it gently he spoke: "I had imagined that this place would be our school of magic, but I see the wisdom in your words. When the Finnish twins return, we should travel through Sweden, Norway and Denmark to see if we can find a fitting place. You're right about the climate as well, It's too cold here, same as Greenland and the Faroes."
On this downcast note they called it a day and Thora left for her small cabin. Brúnleita awaited her hooted sharply and offered her a juicy rat. "No thanks, my dear," Thora said gently, ruffling the feathers between her small horns.  "I have already eaten tonight." Brúnleta hooted once, softly, swallowed the rat in one gulp and flew of to the tall tree where she normally slept.

Sunday Selections ~ How I spent my Birthday ~ Thankful edition

Søndagsbilleder ~ Haveglæder på min fødselsdag

My birthday this year was sunny and nice. I longed for work in the garden, some fresh strawberries maybe or other garden delicacies after weeding a bit.

  -- 🪲 --  

But ... first I realized that my old nemesis - the wax scales - had once again returned with a vengeance on my bay laurel bush.

I am thankful that I quickly found out that when you have a major infestation like this one, the wax scales also live on the topside of the leaves ...

... and on the stems. My pink toothbrush from earlier seasons had disappeared, but I found a new, old toothbrush, this time a blue one.

  -- 🪲 --  

Inside the dome more pests had been living the sweet life. Some of the poppies were totally wrapped in webs from some smallish mites - they were thrown to the hens to eat or not - they did.

They look strange, don't they? Almost like wrapped in cling wrap.

  -- 🪲 --  

I was given a common spindle in exchange for some walnut husks last autumn. It survived first the transplanting, then the winter, then the wet spring. But ... someone has been eating it, and wrapping it in webs too. I read up on it, found that it was Spindle ermine, a common moth, and that it would not kill the plant, only cause a setback.

Here are the sad remains.

A closer look revealed that the stem - or is it a trunk? - was almost broken. An Owlet admitted to the deed, an accident, and "isn't this just a weed, MotherOwl?".
"No it is SO not a weed, dear Owlet," MotherOwl answered and grabbed the Gaffer tape, remembering the old adage 'If you can't fix it with gaffer tape, you did not use enough!"

Fixed spindle tree.

And on a closer inspection, it did indeed survive the attack of the Spindle ermines.

  -- 🪲 --  

Farm engineering works in the Owlery too I hope.

Then I continued the the strawberries, I found ONE ripe strawberry, the blackbirds had eaten the rest, just as they - and the doves - are eating all my redcurrants - Stupid birds!

But the elder was full of flowers, so I made us half a bucketful of elder cordial

Like this!

And I picked rhubarbs, around a kilo and froze in two bags for rhubarb pies in the months to come, where we celebrate a lot of birthdays.

Huge thankful for the gifts of the garden - and for one of my birthday presents; a "bouquet" of steel posts to hold up the nets that keeps the blackbirds away.

Poetry Monday :: Bread

Mandagsdigt :: Brød

Every Monday is Poetry Monday. Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health reasons.

This Monday's prompt is Bread. This word fits me. I like bread, I like to bake a bread, So an ode to bread it is.

Flour, salt and water
A little yeast
And then I potter
along as I knead

Patience and raising
A little time
Soon I'll be praising
The Lord for the bread.

Hmm ... this turned in an unexpected direction. Later today I will post my Sunday Selections. I was too busy yesterday.

- - - - -

Next Monday: Muse

Words for Wednesday, June 12 ~ Gylfi and Thora 8

The Word for Wednesday challenge started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words are provided by a number of people.
The prompts for June are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher and they will be at Elephant's Child's blog.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

 - - - - -

Words for Wednesday June June 12 (today):
Lurk
Amber
Birch
Drainpipe
Spelling

Flour
Buttercups
Light
Train
Mullion

This seems to be turning into one of my longish tales.
I used the first half in the order they were given. But first some corrections. There are no lizards in Iceland, so Gylfi could not have followed one into the cave, and the Cathedral of Our Lady in Turku does not have a crypt as far as I have ben able to find out, so a deserted, cluttered chapel is where the portal leads.
   If anybody from Turku is reading this ... I am thinking mostly of you Karen at Myyratohtori ... then please, could you tell me if there is a crypt or not?


They ate a few more cookies and then braved the last of the portals  leading to the church proper.
They met a man lurking in the dark of the chapel behind the small, hidden door, but luckily he was drunk, and accepted with no further questioning that they were just tourists visiting the cathedral and looking for the special amber-hued burial window in the chapels.
Outside the cathedral they sat themselves down at benches under some birch trees a luscious green in the warmer sunshine of Turku.
"Now, how do we get to Helsinki?" Taavi asked, " and are you two going with us, or what?"
"I can answer the first one," Tähti said. "By bus, I think there's a bus an hour going from Turku to Helsinki, passing by the cathedral square every hour at the hour."
"And no, I do not think we're going to stay here," Gylfi said. "The horses should not be left for days in that cave, and I noticed that our drainpipe was leaking when we left. I suggest that you go home, arrange your stuff for a prolonged absence, and then return when you're ready. It should be quite easy. Come back here, go into the chapel and pass through the portal to the portal room under the mountain. Watch out for that drunkard, though. He might not pass it off if he see people disappearing there regularly." Gylfi smiled.
"The list," Thora said. "they'll have to know which portal to come through once they're back under the mountain."
Gylfi pulled a small notebook from his pocket. Looking at his watch he hurriedly copied the signs for Eyafjallajökull and his phone number on an empty page, which he then pulled out and gave to Tähti. "Just remember what I taught you about the spelling and pronunciation of Icelandic words, then you'll have no trouble phoning me if you do not want to walk all the way back to Hella - or if you're afraid to brave the portals alone, I'll come and fetch you ... and bring a batch of Thora's cookies."
"That last option sounds tempting," Taavi said. "I think we go for that."
Tähti looked at the paper and read Gylfi's address and phone number aloud, the spell at once transforming her words into Finnish for her and Taavi. "No good, she said. When I try to call you, I'll have to cancel that spell, and hope that my atrocious Icelandic will suffice."
"It will," Gylfi assured her, "the lady putting you through is a nice one. Do you have any idea how long before you return?"
Täthi and Taavi looked at  one another. "Quite soon, Taavi answered, "there's no reason to dally, and every reason to come back to Iceland. Two weeks at the most. By the way, if you need a cup of coffee before going home this bill should do it." He gave Gylfi a Finnish bank note.
"Thanks, I did not think of that," he admitted, and added: "We look forward to seeing you again." Thora nodded. "Maybe we can even prepare one of the small huts in the area for you 'till then," Gylfi mused. Then the four magicians shook hands, and Tähti and Taavi hurried to the bus stop while Thora and Gylfi slowly drifted back to the church. They entered the cathedral again.
"Let's play tourists for a short while!"
They paid for entrance to the small museum, and were even allowed up in the tower. After a cup of surprisingly good coffee they went back into the chapel and assured that no-one were around before they opened the secret door. Soon they were back in Iceland.

Words for Wednesday ~ Gylfi & Thora 7

Keeping up this "speed" I'll never ever use all the Words before a new batch is given to us in 1½ days.
I used one word, Lizard, for this part of the story.

Of course they were wary following Gylfi after this. The door looked like a dark hole to an even darker room, As they crossed the threshold one by one the world spun around them in a dizzying, sickening way leaving them retching and gasping for breath.
"Wow," Tähti said, "your portals are tough. She sat down hard on one of the chairs and held her head until it stopped buzzing. Then she looked around. Sleek, grey stone walls made out walls, floor and ceiling in the long broad corridor stretching ahead of them. Slowly she turned her head and looked behind her, a grey stone wall was covered in a shimmering, vaguely blue substance, like sparkling smoke.
"Is that the portal?" she asked, pointing to the oblong cloudy thing.
"Yes. This is what we came through, Gylfi said, carefully nodding. "The dizziness will get better with each use, I hardly feel anything any longer. Are you ready to go on?"
The three wizards stood up, shook their heads carefully, felt their heads and legs, and realised that they felt much better already.
"Yes, we're ready," Thora said. "Lead on."
Gylfi led them through smoothly hewn corridors of that same grey stone. Everywhere were doors and a irregular intervals corridors branched off. Some of the doors had strange blue symbols over them, some still lit, others faded almost away.
"What is this place once again, and who made this?" Thora asked.
"As far as I have been able to find out from reading old, and I mean really old, moulding texts, this is the main portal room of all the magic world from back when wizard or witch was an honourable occupation. I don't know who made this. They fell into oblivion in the early middle ages. I surmise, that the black death, that almost halved the populations also decimated the knowledge. I further guess that the portals actually helped spread the pest, and that wizards and witches in many cases carried the disease with them through the portals - only to die from it themselves as well. What ever the reasons, after 1500 those portals were only known to a few wizards here and there throughout Europe until the persecutions in the 16th century killed them off as well. My rediscovery was pure luck. I was riding here one summer on a trip to circle the ice caps, I followed a very beautiful lizard into the natural cave. I then fell in the darkness, waking up again near midnight, and stumbling around, looking for the horse - who had of course left me and returned home - and the stuff that had spilled from my backpack, I literally stumbled through the portal. I returned, and studied over the years, and now I suggest that we go to Helsinki. Follow me."
The other three looked at one another at a loss for words, and just followed Gylfi to a door with a glowing blue symbol over it.
"This here symbol means Finland." Gylfi said, certainty in his voice.
"How so?" Taavi asked.
"It's an ancient language, or maybe just symbols. I have made my own small booklet with a list of the doors' symbols. I suggest that you copy it for yourself later on." He opened his backpack. "And now, before we jump through this portal, a snack is a good thing. At least I have found that eating helps with the sickening feeling and with not getting exhausted. Thora's cookies are very good for this."
"That's where all my cookies went!" Thora exclaimed,  "I never understood what happened to them!"
They all ate a couple or three of Thora's cookies and then Gylfi opened the door to the room, where yet another blue, shimmering oblong portal waited fro them. He then bade Tähti go through the portal as the first one.
"I go first?" Tähti said, at the same time eager and afraid to go on.
"Yes. Ladies first," Gylfi said, bowing in a very old fashioned way before her.
"If you do not like what you find, you can just return," he said in a teasing tone.
"I'll do it," Tähti said, and walked through the portal head held high and walking with dainty steps.
"Now, who's next?" Taavi asked.
"Thora, you go now," Gylfi said, then Taavi, and lastly me bringing up the rear."
They did as suggested and soon all four wizard stood shaking and breathing heavily in another stony room.
"Where do you think we are?" Gylfi asked Taavi and Tähti.
"Not in Helsinki!" Tähti said with determination in her voice. "It feels wrong."
"You're right, we're not in Helsinki. But we're close."
"Hey," Tähti said, "now you're telling the truth. What you said before were half truths, not far enough off for me to notice, but now, now you're telling us an unlikely truth. I see our glow!" Gylfi looked at her, astonishment etched on his face. But Tähti shook her head: "Later. If we are in Finland, and I see your truth there, but still not in Helsinki, I am certain that we are in Turku. We could be in the crypt below the cathedral of our Lady."
"You hit the bullseye!" Gylfi said smiling.

 ..... to be continued

Poetry Monday :: Wild

Mandagsdigt :: Vild

Every Monday is Poetry Monday. Mimi of Messymimi's Meanderings and I have taken over the hosting duties, mostly the supplying of the prompts - only temporarily we hope - while Diane at On the Border is taking a break for health reasons.

This Monday's prompt is WILD. This word fits my garden, yesterday was Day of Wild Gardens in Denmark. So ... a photo and a poem is in place here.


Our garden is wild
to put it mild

We have weeds and bugs
and snails and slugs

There's too many weeds
there's too much that feeds

On bushes and trees
and on my seeds

There's nettles that sting,
tiny vicious thing

There's thistles too
white, purple and blue

Mosquitoes galore
and wasps that soar

There's foxes that fright
my chicks in the night

But boy, oh boy
we have much to enjoy

There's tits and hens
and wagtails and wrens.

There's chirps and tweets
and peas and beets.

There's also a dome
the tomatoes' home

And beds for all
plants big or small

They smell and sting,
they do their thing

There's morning red skies
and dragonflies

There's bushes, trees
and bumblebees

There's toads and frogs,
that jumps and hops

There's beetles of red
and spiders in web

The happy and glad
overshade all the bad.

Had I not been away
most of all yesterday

This sign on you'd have seen
inviting you in:

Come on in! - the garden is open - Wild Gardens' Day

And I'm sure you'd have seen
lots of

Words for Wednesday ~ Gylfi & Thora 6

June 5 saw me writing this. Words for Wednesday June 5:
Girth
Pummelling
Lizard
Blooms
Corridor
     And/or
 Pucker
Beady
Salubrious
Cabin
Barley

I know what to write, but my teeth still hurt and these Words do not fit, anyway writing will happen ... soon.
These words are still some bastards, but writing did indeed happen. I used: Girth & Pummelling for this. It continues where I left off last time:


"If we want to found a school of magic," Thora said, "We'll have to find more good wizards to teach there. Do you have any idea of where to begin?"
"You said in the car, that you could feel my magic," Tähti said, looking at Gylfi. "How did you do this, I mean can we learn to do this?"
" I don't know, I thought we all could do this. Close your eyes." Gylfi placed two books on the table in front of Tähti, of roughly equal girth and weight. He placed one of her hands on each book: "Now feel those books, can you feel which one is magic?"
 "The left one is magic," Tähti said after only a slight hesitation. "That's easy."
"Exactly. That's how it is!" Gylfi said, "but we have to learn."
"Can I try as well?" Taavi asked. And he was able to feel the same difference as his sister. They then practised with their new wands, the old wands, branches, rods and timber. Very soon they were right every time.
They ate lunch, and how they ate. "We'll have to go shopping soon," Gylfi said, "We eat much more than I reckoned we would."
"We do?" Taavi asked. "I remember our grandparents complained that we ate so much at their place. Our parents always said that it was the rural air that did it. Maybe it was the magic?"
"I still remember grandma's cooking as very good," Tähti said smiling. "But then we'll need some good cooks at our school ... that'll have to wait until later. What about our books? Could we get them somehow?"
"Whoa," Gylfi said. "hold on a minute. I have a shadow of an idea. This also have to wait at least some days. We'll have to practise and grow in magic first. I'd suggest we try wandsinging next."
They went out into the park. Thora placed her hand on a tree and sang the wandsinging song. Nothing happened. Then Gylfi tried and then Taavi with the same negative results.
"You try again, Tähti," he said.
Tähti sung and still nothing happened. "It seems that we will have to work on this," she said.

 The next weeks were quiet, but busy, the four read books or went for walks in the great park and surrounding countryside in the semi-dark days and dined well and planned long into the dark hours. The quiet was now and again interrupted when someone found an exiting spell, a difficult potion or a new or easier way of doing something. The poor table in Gylfi's living room took many a pummelling from strange substances and once even from a rain of small stones.

"We really have to go home to Finland," Taavi said one morning. "There's some things I want to check in my books, Id like to bring them here - and on he more prosaic side we need more clothes, and to take care of our homes. We can't just stay here forever."
"No really, you can," Gylfi said. "But I acknowledge that you have to check up on your flats in Finland." He slanted his head and smiled at Thora who smiled back. "But for today I have planned an outing to the caves of Hella. Because today it is the spring equinox."

The caves of Hella were impressing, but for our four wizards they were also a disappointment. By now they were experts in the discernment of magic, and they found only weak traces of magic here and there, the wisps and echoes of old spells and a bit more in one of the chambers, Maybe once, long ago some wizards had cast some spells at one of the walls there, maybe an old wand was buried there. All the writings were not in the least magic. And they were not able to read anything at  all from the inscriptions on the walls and columns.

The next day Gylfi told the three other wizards that he had a big discovery to show them. He would not tell anything but that they were going to Eyafjallajökull and probably stay there for a couple of days. He bade them dress in comfy, warm clothes and sensible shoes - "And please remember your wands. Thora, can I ask you for once to pack a generous lunch. I have some last minute preparations to see to?"

Half an hour later they all piled into the old car and Thora drove them to the nearest bigger town, where they stopped for some shopping, and coffee and  cake. Gylfi took over and steered the car down a narrow, bumbling road. At the end of this, mercifully short ride they stopped at a small farm. A woman dressed in skirts and with long braids came out to greet them. "He came over after you phoned him," she said. "I have the horses ready for you!"  
"Horses?" Taavi said, "What now, Gylfi?"
"Well it's impossible to go there by car, and and I can't see us walking over there, so ... riding is the best alternative. Trust me."
They distributed the bags and bedrolls and Gylfi took the lead. They soon came to a glistening ice cap, and Gylfi followed the rim until he found an almost invisible track. "I was here years ago," he said, "but I am sure this is the right place. Come on!"  The track twisted and turned and suddenly a black hole into the ice opened in front of them. Led by Gylfi they entered and stood in a natural cave. They pulled the horses into the cave and tied them to rings set in the stone. Gylfi spoke again: "This is one of the old Portal places of Iceland. From here we can go to a big place under the mountain, or to a similar place under Drangajökull. We will have to go to the big place."
"Portals!" Taavi asked in an awed voice.
"Yes," Gylfi answered, "Portals. They worked in the middle ages, up until the great witch hunts, and then they were forgotten and fell into disrepair. I discovered this place by pure accident, and I have carefully tried and tested all the portals - one nearly killed me, it is sealed by now."
He opened a door in a far corner. "Only wizards can pass through this door. It is a mini-portal in its own right, and not a nice experience, but fear not, follow me."

..... to be continued

Words for Wednesday ~ Only the Words ... & IWSG June 5

The Word for Wednesday challenge started a long time ago. Now it has turned into a movable feast with Elephant's Child as our coordinator; and the Words are provided by a number of people.
The prompts for June are provided by Hilary Melton-Butcher and they will be at Elephant's Child's blog.

The general idea of this challenge is to make us write. Poems, stories, subtitles, tales, jokes, haiku, crosswords, puns, ... you're the boss.
Use all Words, some Words, one Word, or even none of them if that makes your creative juices flow. Anything goes, only please nothing rude or vulgar.

 It is also a challenge, where the old saying "The more the merrier" holds true.

So Please, remember to follow the links, go back and read other peoples' stories. And please leave a comment after reading. Challenges like this one thrives on interaction, feedback and encouragement. And we ALL need encouragement.

 - - - - -

Words for Wednesday June 5:
Girth
Pummelling
Lizard
Blooms
Corridor
     And/or
 Pucker
Beady
Salubrious
Cabin
Barley

I know what to write, but my teeth still hurt and these Words do not fit, anyway writing will happen ... soon.


 - - - - - -

Today is also the first Wednesday of the month. Time for the monthly Question from the Insecure Writers' Support Group

June 5 question - In this constantly evolving industry, what kind of offering/service do you think the IWSG should consider offering to members?

My answer - I think the porpose of this group perfectly describes what I would like:
Purpose: To share and encourage.
Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!

Poetry Monday :: Eggs :: No Poetry

Poetry Monday is a challenge, normally hosted by Diane @ On the Border. But starting this January she's taking a break due to health issues, and Mimi @ Messymimi's Meanderings and I have conspired to keep the chair warm for her. We will each set the topics for one month, I began with January, Mimi supplied for February, and so on until Diane returns.

For Monday June 3rd the prompt was Eggs.

But yesterday no poeming happened. I thought quite a lot about Eggs as I biked to the dentist, but after having one tooth extracted and another given a root canal treatment, poetry was not high on my priority list.

Here's a picture of today's Eggs while waiting

 - - - - -
Next Monday's prompt is Wild

Sunday Selection :: Søndagsbilleder

Once again from bus travels and my garden

Nok engang fra busrejser og fra min have

And featuring Colour of the Month ~ June :: Og med Månedens farve ~  juni

First the ivy that has figured here before:

Den her efeu har vi set før

But over it ... dun-dun-dun  ... ready to fall:

Men ovenover .... lige ved at falde ned.

Meanwhile in The Owlery ~ Hjemme i Ugleboet

Storkenæb ~ Cranesbill

Flotte pletter ~ Pretty spots

Verdens bedste pebermynte  ~ The very best mint

Murasaki

Japansk Indigo ~ Dyer's knotweed

Hvidløg fra topløg ~ Garlic from bulbils

Yuzu, der bare elsker at stå inde i domen ~ Yuzu loving it inside my dome

Nyplantet egetræ ~ Sapling oak, just transplanted


And the ladies enjoying all our weeds. Nothing green here - except for the weeds and some of the eggs. We do have 6 hens, but one is broody and is always staying inside the nesting box -- As we have no rooster, she will never have any luck, and I steal the eggs.

Od de damer der spiser al vores ukrudt. Der er ikke meget grønt her -- ud over ukrudtet og nogle af æggene. Vi har altså 6 høner, men den ene er skruk og ligger hele tiden inde i redekassen - vi har ikke nogen hane, så der kommer ikke noget ud af det, og så stjæler jeg altså æggene fra hende.